Amravati cash meant for minister close to CM: Gadkari

Demanding an inquiry into the Rs 1 crore cash found in a car in Amravati before the civic elections, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday alleged that the money was meant for a minister.

Demanding an inquiry into the Rs 1 crore cash found in a car in Amravati before the civic elections, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday alleged that the money was meant for a minister.

“The money was collected from contractors overnight at Nagpur and was meant to reach a minister close to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan,” Gadkari alleged while talking to the media in Nagpur.

Following the incident, President Pratibha Patil’s son and Congress MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat was issued a notice by the district collector and also questioned by the police. He had attributed the dispute surrounding the cash seized by the Amravati police to the 'communication gap' with the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

Gadkari said if the money, as the Congress claims, was part of party funds, then they should come out with the details. “If the cash has been given by the party then they should be able to prove it by showing the accounts. Both the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party have won elections through money. There should be an inquiry into where this Rs1 crore came from,” he added.

Besides Shekhawat, notices were issued to minister of state Rajendra Mulak and his personal assistant Ashish Bodhanka, among others. Mulak has asked for an extension till February 28 for responding to the inquiry.